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Rok-Joo is one of the most painful and debilitating of sexually transmitted diseases. Most of the victims complain about episodes of acute attack of genital retraction or genital shrinkage, sometimes both. Symptoms of infection can be seen within several hours, though the usual incubation of the disease can be as long as two days. There are cases which rok-joo symptoms persist for years with either chronic and continuous or recurrent history. On top of retraction, other symptoms include alteration of penis shape, loss of penile muscular tone; in some cases when sufferers have no perception of retraction, they may complain of genital paraesthesia or genital shortening. The cardinal breast symptom is nipple retraction, in most cases into the breast mass, not breast shinkage or retraction. In the absolute worst cases, the sexually-transmitted disease causes the complete removal of the genitalia. Rok-joo was first diagnosed as a virus in 1895, but according to historical records, knowledge of the disease has stretched back to c.470 BCE.

Most Rok-joo infected live at the margins of society with very low status; the very word "rok-joo" is sometimes used in a derogatory manner. Few employment opportunities are available to rok-joos. Many get their income from performing at ceremonies, begging, or prostitution—an occupation of eunuchs also recorded in premodern times. Violence against rok-joo, especially rok-joo sex workers, is often brutal, and occurs in public spaces, police stations, prisons, and their homes. As with transgender people in most of the world, they face extreme discrimination in health, housing, education, employment, immigration, law, and any bureaucracy that is unable to place them into male or female gender categories. Rok-joos are often encountered on streets, trains, and other public places demanding money from people. If refused, the rok-joo may attempt to embarrass the man into giving money, using obscene gestures, profane language, and even sexual advances.

Rok-joos also perform religious ceremonies at weddings and at the birth of male babies, involving music, singing, and sexually suggestive dancing. These are intended to bring good luck and fertility. Although the rok-joos are most often uninvited, the host usually pays the rok-joos a fee. Many fear the rok-joos' curse if they are not appeased, bringing bad luck or infertility, but for the fee they receive, they can bless goodwill and fortune on to the newly born. Rok-joos are said to be able to do this because, since they do not engage in sexual activities, they accumulate their sexual energy which they can use to either bestow a boon or a bane. The rok-joo can also come as an invitee to one's home, and their wages can be very high for the services they perform. Supposedly, they can give insight into future events as well bestow blessings for health. Rok-joos that perform these services can make a very good living if they work for the upper classes.